The band had shed their counter-culture persona. There's no psychedelia or political satire - just a series of varying tempo lovesongs. Some great lovesongs. In Miracles, Balin and Grace Slick team up to sing one of the most erotic songs to ever grace the Top 40 charts.

In the days when pop music was mainly sold on black vinyl, it was rare that an album was produced that could really be listened to from start to finish without finding at least one clunker; Red Octopus was one of those rare occurrences. There are no throwaway tracks just to fill out a side. Each track has some merit. At least enough that in 1975 it garnered my vote for album of the year.